Adventures in Science!

Inquisitive YMCA participants at a local elementary school discovered "Science is for Everyone!" through an After-School Science Plus activity where they were instructed to imagine a scientist and draw that image. The drawings lead to a discussion about common stereotypes assigned to scientists (i.e. bald, wears lab coat, male, works in a lab) and how those stereotypes can discourage others from exploring careers in science.

Next, students followed some of the scientific process skills such as making predictions, testing their ideas, recording data and drawing conclusions to discover which items sink and which items float. After testing each item, participants explored the concept of density.

Art Math

Who knew math could be fun? Participants at the Bassett Community Center investigated art created by M.C. Escher and Piet Mondrian to explore the connection between art and math.

Although he explored different methods of art throughout his career, Escher is most famous for his mathematical designs that showcased tessellations and symmetry. Students discovered that symmetry is not only the mirror image of an object but that symmetry also occurs when the position of an object is changed without changing the shape of the object (i.e. rotational symmetry).

Students compared the artistic styles of Mondrian and Escher and discovered that Mondrian's art is abstract while Escher's art used shapes that are easily recognizable. Also, Mondrian incorporated asymmetry and Neoplasticism (using horizontal and vertical lines and primary colors) into his art.

Participants at the Boys & Girls Club and the Collinsville YMCA discovered the world of Rube Goldberg contraptions. A noted cartoonist, Goldberg created complicated solutions to complete simple tasks. During the first two sessions, students worked in groups to build simple machines using Legos. On the last day, students traded their Legos for everyday materials found around their home to build their very own Goldberg-inspired contraption.

After a brief review of simple machines, students identified simple machines in cartoons.

Next, students built a lever and discovered its three components (fulcrum, effort, and load).

Using the lever, students participated in a Lego flipping contest.

Then students were given the task of building an inclined plane and use accompanying items to get a ball into a cup. This was harder than they thought!

The students were divided into groups and assigned a simple machine to build with common household items or other responsibilities such as figuring out how to connect the simple machines and how to start the chain reaction. After the simple machines were built, all of the machines were combined to form one large contraption.

What 's Science Without a Mess?!?!

With school back in full swing, students found some fun in science at the MHC After 3 sites, and they even managed to get a little messy too! A little spoiled milk never hurt anyone, and the kids found that to be true as they soured milk in just 5 minutes. The milk was mixed with acetic acid (vinegar) and everyone watched as the mixture slowly turned into curds and whey right before their very eyes.

But from every mess, art can be found somewhere. Some fresh milk was added to bowls and everyone got to color their milk with food coloring drops. They then found out what happens to milk proteins when you mix it with detergent...it explodes! Not the big kaboom, but the colors danced and swirled as the soap mixed with the milk.
They learned what happens when proteins mix with soap...they start breaking down.



To end the day, we made some elephant toothpaste by mixing yeast, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. It made one big mess!

Back to After-School!

MHC After 3 is back in session for Henry County students! The kids at the Bassett Community Center enjoyed their afternoon exploring chemical reactions.

They first did an activity where they "became" chemical elements, gathered into groups (which became their chemical compound formulas). They pretended to all have a chemical reaction, which caused them to rearrange in to new compounds. This showed them how all the elements after the reaction were still there in the same amounts (this balance is called equillibrium), however they were arranged differently.

They did two experiments involving the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar, which looks like this:

Acetic Acid   +  Sodium Bicarbonate  ----> Carbonic Acid  ------->  Water  + Carbon Dioxide

CH3COOH  +       NaHCO3            ---->      H2CO3       ------->   H2O   +         CO2

The carbon dioxide that's created in the reaction caused a balloon to blow up in the first experiment.

Then we used the reaction to shoot off a cork rocket.

It was very intense!
The students then talked about other chemical reactions they've seen in action, and also which ones take place in front of us every day!
They were so excited about these activities, we didn't have time to make elephant toothpaste! They'll have to wait until the next science session to find out what chemical reaction makes it!

Ultimate Summer Experience at VMNH

Thanks to local partners and organizations, campers at VMNH were able to experience a wide range of activites. Most of which, we had never tried! Here are a few images to show you how we spent our summer.

Art Week

We had the opportunity to explore wood working and cooking at the School of Craft & Design.

Designing jewelry boxes from start to finish.

In cooking class, we had the opportunity to prepare (and eat) dishes from each continent in the world.

Expert pizza dough tossing!


Chicken Kabobs

Preparing guacamole dip.

Science Exploration Week
We participated in a fun-filled week of science in a camp called Marvelous Messes. Of course, everything is more fun when messes are made!

Who knew this would happen when we combined baking soda and vinegar?

Owl pellets, anyone?

After a little hesitation, it was not as bad as we assumed.




Extracting DNA from fruit and vegetables.

Athletic Week
We learned the proper batting technique, played volleyball, visited a local farm, went hiking, canoeing and ice skating.

We decided to take a break after a refreshing hike on the Rhododendron Trail at the Gravely Nature Preserve.

Welcome to Owen Farm!

What will we see next?